Roofing-tongs



(Model.)

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Patented June 4 V Nr l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Model.)

Patnted June 4, 1889.

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CHRISTIAN G. BLUM AND PHILIP LISTEMAN, OF COLINSVILLE, ILLINOIS.

ROOFING-TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 404,678, dated June 4, 1889.

Application filed August 28, 1888. Serial No. 283,983. (Model.)

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roofing-Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to a machine for seaming metal roofs; and the invention consists in features of novelty to be hereinafter fully described, and then particularized in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure I is a perspective view of our improved roofingtongs. Fig. II is a sectional view on the line indicated by II, Fig. I, and looking toward the left of said figure. Fig. III is a sectional View on the line indicated by III, Fig. I, and looking toward the right of said figure. Fig. IV is a det-ached view of the bending-bar, showing also the treadle formed therewith.

Fig. V is an elevation looking toward the opposite side of Fig. I. Fig. VI is an end elevation looking` toward the right of Fig. V, the

treadle and handle-sockets being broken off. Fig. VII is an end elevation and shows the initial end of the tongs gripping the adjacent sections of the tin together. Fig. VIII isa vertical section, partly in elevation, of the tongs, with one shank of the treadle broken away to show the action of the bending-bar,

vthe bending-bar being turned down by the operation of the double foot-treadle and the Overlap tin given its initial .bend by the working-face of said bar. Fig. IX is a vertical section on line V V, Fig. XII, and shows the finishing-section of the bending-bar, which is in position to make the iinal bend of the overlap-section of the seam. Fig. X is a vertical section on line V V, Fig. XII, and shows the finished (single-seam) work of the bend-` ing-bar. Fig. XI is an end view looking toward the left of Fig. I.` Fig. XII is a bottom view of the tongs and bending-bar, and shows the projected surfaces on the jaws of -the tongs that hold said jaws in non-interference with the cross-seams of the tin. Fig. XIII is a perspective view of the bending-bar. Fig. XIV is a perspective view of the front jaw of the tongs. Fig. XV is a perspective detail view of the seam, and shows the position of the adjacent sections of tin relatively before are three, which are secured to the bed-plate 6 of the stationary jaw bythe screws or bolts The journal-boxes project forward from the bed-plate, one at each end thereof and the other from the middle. These journalboxes are provided with curved openings or recesses 7, of sufficient diameter to make peripheral bearin gs, in which the former or bending-bar 8 freely works. The said bendingbar, thus having three peripheral bearings relatively at the ends and the middle, is much more firmly held to its work than it could be with the usual pivot-bearings, which yield under the heavy stress of the bar in eifecting the seam. The bar is also held much more firmly to its work than could be even a bar with peripheral bearings, that has not, as has this bar, a middle bearing that will not allow the bar to spring under the heavy pressure necessitated to effect the double-seam joints.

lNIetal-roofers are well awareof the difficulties arising from the springing'of the jaw of the tongs and the bender-bar und-er'the pressure of the double seam, especially when working over thev cross-seams.

The initial section v9 of the bending-bar Sis of nearly semi-cylindrical form in cross-section, and the whole length of said bar has an ogee working-face 10. It will be seen that the said ogee working-face of the bending-bar provides a curvilinear turn for the overlap at the apex ll of the seam (see Fig'. XV) that will not break the tin, as is a common occurrence with straight-faced bars, and also the ont curve of the ogee face tightly nips the lower edge of the tin l2 of the overlap 13, so that,

as stated, by avoiding breaks in the apex of the seam-and effecting a tight joint beneath,

vthat prevents the intrusion ofmoisture,a

kroo

angle line to the working-face of the initial. section and to its own base, and there is a curvilinear change of face 15 from the initial section 9 of the bar, which is first brought into action, and which only effects a right-angle bend of the overlap to that of the finishingsection 14, which completes the seam.

1G represents double right and left foot or twin treadles, whose attachment- Shanks 17 connect the double treadle with the bendingbar, which they operate. These shanks and the treadles they attach are preferably cast integral with the bending-bar, which they relatively join on the right or left side of the handle-Shanks which operate the jaws of the tongs. The said location of the shanks of the treadles keeps the bending-bar from longitudinal displacement.

18 represents a spiral reactionary spring, which is attached to t-he twin treadles by its terminal hook 19 and to a lug 20, that projects from thefront side of the socket of thehandle of the movable jaw, into the perforation 2l of which the terminal hook 22 of the spring is clasped.

The socket and shank for the attachment of the handle of the stationary jaw of the tongs is east integral with the middle journalbox, and together they are secured to the bedplatc of the stationary jaw of the tongs, as stated, by screws 32. The handle will rise nearly vertically from said bed-plate.

The stationary jaw has the meeting edge of its horizontal base and its nearly-vertical face curved. It is found that this curved form for that part of the jaw which shapes the tin below the seam proper is much more favorable for a good seam, not breaking the tin, as is frequently the case when the lower edge is formed in a sharp right angle, and also with the like form of the movable jaw, forming a foot-brace to the seam that greatly strengthens it. Another advantage obtained by forming this curve in the lower part of the seam is that moisture does not lodge therein, as it does within a sharp angle, which we avoid in all parts of our seam. The tin in consequence at the usually most vulnerable points (from sharp angles, breakage, and rust) is alike durable with the rest of the roof.

rPhe under side of the bed-plate, as well as the lower face of the movable jaw, is provided with three narrow projecting rest-sl ats 25, the jaws being thereby sufficiently elevated above the surface of the roof to allow room for the projection of the cross-seams, and thus the usual tilting of the tongs on said adverse su rfaces and the consequent irregular seaming of the roof are avoided.

The socket and swan-neck shank 33, that holds the handle of the movable jaw, is cast integral with said jaw and rises up Vvertically at first, and then curves backward over tl e bending-bar past the socket of the handle of the stationary jaw, in the rear of which it again rises nearly vertically to receive its handle.

The movable jaw, like the bending-bar, works on three bearings, so that the middle of the jaw cannotspring out under the heavy pressure that it has to withstand. It is supported at each end by rock-arms 24, that are cast integral with it, the upper ends of which arms are provided with perforated bearings, through which the pivot-bolts 20 pass. The fixed ends of the bolts 2G are seated in perforations 27 in the two outer journal-boxes 5. A pivot-bolt 28, iixed in the middle journal box 5, has loose bearings in the shank 33 of the handle of the movable jaw. It will be seen that the said pivot-bolts 26and 28 in the journal-boxes are not only at a higher elevation than the bending-bar and the seams that said bar and jaw close, but are also placed at the forward ends of said journal-boxes, which is another very important feature in the results that said structure effects. The pivotbearings of the movable j aw are thus brought much nearer the work, and the handle that operates this jaw has a largely-increased leverage.

rlhe movable jaw is provided with a projection 3l on its finishing end, that clamps against the lower edge of the overlap of the finished seam,so as to provide a firm hold for the tongs to keep them from moving up away from the seam which is being formed. By this device, the tongs being held evenly to their work, pei-force, a more even and in every way better seam can be eliected. A curved recess is provid ed in the iinishin g workin gface 14 of the bending-bar to pass over the said projection 34. A recess 30 in the working-face of the movable jaw opposite the seotion 14E of the bending-bar permits the movement of said finishingssection of the bar.

The rear bottom corners of the bendingbar are provided at each end with a miter angular projection 4l, which increases the peripheral bearing at each end of the bendingbar. The back of the stationary jaw has at each end an angular recess 4:2, that corresponds with `the projection 4l to receive this projection when the bending-bar is moved back into its normal position.

It will be seen that the miter projections materially increase t-he extent of the available peripheral bearings of said bending-bar, and also, cooperating with the recesses 12 in the stationary jaw, hold said bar from longitudin al displacement.`

An important advantage which is attained by the use of a movable jawhaving bearings in the three journal-boxes is that as the op eration of said jaw is preliminary to the operation of the bending-bar, and since the bearings of the movable jaw are placed forward of the peripheral bearings of the bendin g-bar, said bearin and the bending-bar are iirmly held down by the leverage of the said jaw against the pressure of the material operated on. Thisis au important feature that is alone attainable through journal-boxes provided with rear peripheral beari n for the bending-bar and forward bearings for the operative jaw.

The operation of our roofington is as IOO IOS

ITS

follows: The adjacent roofing-plates 37 have preparatory to the second turn and clinch,

which form the double seam of t-he tin 'or metal roof. The initial end 9 of the former or bending-bar is .nearly semi-cylindrical in cross-section'for about half the length of the bar, and this end bends down the overlap marginal edge 13 of the tin to about a right angle. The movable jaw 2 in the meantime holds the two flanged edges 3S of the sheet closely pressed together beneath the overlap margin 13. The tongs are then passed longitudinally along the seam and make another partial right-angle bend, and at the same time the curvilinear turn 15 of the working-face of the bending-bar and beyond it the finishing-section 14 of said bar make the final bend and finish up the seam, so that by moving the tongs along the seam and effecting a fresh clinch (the first section 0f the bending-bar turning down the overlap margin of the tin half-way and the second section completing the closure) the single seam is thus completed. As the seaming goes on the projection 34 at the finishing end of the movable jaw bears against the lower side of the pendent edge 12 of the seam already ef-` fected, and thereby holds the tongs and bending-bar evenly to their work. A much more regular seam is thus made than could otherwise be effected.

It will be seen that as the bearings of the movable jaw are placed forward and above the bending-bar and seam the jaw when moved to clamp the flanges 38 passes around the marginal edge of the tin and up to the clamping position, and again when the jaw is moved to release its hold it passes in a curvilinear direction downward and away from the seam, so that its forward journal-bearings prevent its coming intocontact with the edge of the overlap tin.

It will be seen that when .passing beneath the edge of the overlap, which is bent down at a right angle to the seam, the advancing edge of themovable jaw is at its lowest point, because at such time it is vertically beneath its center bearings. Therefore it passes without interference, and turning yet on its aXis it describes the upward section of its arc, so as to fully grip the seam, and so, also, on its return it cannot drag the edge of the tin, for it is then moving in a curve downward.

The curvilinear turn between the initial section and the finishing-section of the bending-bar effects an even gradual change in the bend, so as to bring all the parts of the seam into line, and thus avoid the objectionable crooked and sometimes broken tin entailed by the abrupt change from the half-bend to the whole bend or finished seam. The bending-bar is actuated by twin treadles, which enable the operatorto work to either the right or the left with either the right or left foot.

Roofers well know the danger encountered at the gable ends of roofs by having no optional change of treadle, as is provided by our twin treadles. The single treadle is all right for one end of the roof; but the very fact that mak es it all right for that end makes it all wrong for the other, and the operator has to risk life and limb for lack of the twin treadles that our invention supplies. The twin treadles also enable the metalrooferto do the seaming around chimneys with more ease and skill and to effect better work.

1t will be seen that when the movable jaw grips the seam the reactionary spiral spring 18 is slackened by the forward movement of the handle that operates the jaw, so as to reduce to a minimum the adverse action of the spring, for the handle carries one end of said spring. So, also, on t-he return of the treadle after having formed the seam, the spring is again slackened by its reciprocal movement, in that the treadle and the handle of the movable j aw have a reciprocal movement that is always in unison, and thus, also, the spring is not put to so severe a strain as it would otherwise be. The spiral spring elevates the twin treadles, and through them withdraws the bending-bar whenever the operators foot is removed from the treadles. The treadles are thus elevated ready for renewed action. The elevation of the bed-plate that carries the stationary jaw and of the movable jaw on rest-slats 23 overcomes the great difficulty experienced from the uneven seating of the tongs as they pass over the cross-seams that connect the tin plates. It is very difficult, if indeed possible, to form regular seams when there is an irregular rocking tilting movement of the tongs and their bendingbar. There is but a small space in the course of the tongs on the roof that, is covered by the rests, and the remainder of the space is free for the occupancy of the cross-seams, so as not toV interfere vwith the even seating of the tongs.

It will be seen, as stated in the description of the former or bender-bar, that, as it has given to it an ogee working-face, the tin is bent over at top with a slight curve that does not break or crack it, as is very frequently the case when, as heretofore, the overlap is bent down on a sharp angle by the straight working-face of the bender-bar heretofore used; also, the curve outward of the ogee justat the lower edge of the marginal overlap tin tightly presses it against its backing, so that there is no open joint for the admission of moisture to rust the tin, and the uneven irregular open joints at the lower edges of the overlaps are thus avoided. 'It will thus be seen that not only in the action of the bender-bar, but also of the tongs, our invention provides curvilinear instead of angular lOO IIO

turns. Thus at the foot of the seam it will be seen our tongs so form the foot of the joint or seam that it has a curved connection with no sharp angles to break or crack the tin, or on the surface of the roof to hold the moist-nre that rusts the metal; also, the curve of the adjacent sheets toward each other provides a brace to the seam thatboth makes it stronger to work on in seaming, and also stronger and more enduring afterward.

It will also be seen that since the grip-jaw of the tongs grasps the flange of the seam, and so steadies the bending-bar in its operation, as it is not removed from the seam until it reaches its farther extremity, there is provided in the handles of the tongs a grip to help to steady the operator, which is a feature of importance to the operator, whose footing is otherwise as uncertain as that on an inclined field of ice, whereas in tongs that do not give that support the operator is responsible for both holding the tongs from slipping and himself also, and many accidents have resulted therefrom. Again, it will be seen that the initial or forward section of the movable jaw, as it only grips the flanges beneath the initial section of the bending-bar, is never in the way of the half-bend, for the tongs are moved forward for the next initial step in the seaming before the full bend is effected, and there is in the finishing-section of said movable jaw a recess that allows room for the movement of the proj ectin g iinishingsection of the bending-bar.

Another advantage in beveling the heels of our grip-jaws is that the pressure of the jaw is especially applied at the upper edges of the seam, where the pressure is most required. To effect the second or double seam another set of tongs go over the course again, repeating the operation. The tongs and bendingbar then used are sufficiently less elevated above the plate on which they work, but are substantially the same device. With two operators and two pairs of tongs the jointcan thus be double-seamed and finished up as they go.

llavin thus described our invention,what we claim as new therein, and desire to secure hy Letters Patent, isv

l. In rooling-tongs, the right and left foot-` treadles secured to the bending-bar to enable the operator to work it from either the right or left, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In roofing-tongs, the combination of the angular projections 4l from the end lower corners of the bending-bar and the recesses in the stationary jaw of the tongs which rcceive said projections, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In roofing-tongs, the combination of the right and left foot-treadles and the reactionary spring connected to the treadles and the handle of the movable jaw to have a reciprocating movement in unison with both parts with which it connects, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In rooling-tongs, the combination of the three journal-boxes, each having peripheral bearings for the bending-bar, the three journals of the movable jaw, and the rest-slats secured to the bottom of the bed-plate of the stationary jaw and to the bottom of the movable jaw to raise them above the cross-seams, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In roofing-tongs, the combination of the three journal-boxes having the triple peripheral bearings for the bending-bar and the journals for the movable jaw, and the ogee working-face of the bending-bar which turns the overlap tin in a curve at the apex of the seam and tightly presses its under lip, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. A roofing-tongs comprising a stationary jaw having three journal-boxes, each having a peripheral bearing for a bending-bar and a journal for a movable jaw above and in front of the peripheralbearing, a bending-bar supported in the peripheral bearings, anda movable jaw having a handle'shank and arms 24. pivoted upon the journals of the stationary j aw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

CHRISTIAN G. BLUM. PHILIP LTS'FEMAN.

ln presence of- BENIN. A. KNIGHT, Jos. WAHLE. 

